Method for visually confirming a relationship between an edited packet and serial data

Abstract

A user may easily confirm a relationship between an edited packet and the output serial data derived from the edited packet. The user may edit a packet with known method (step 104 ) to display a packet structure of the edited packet (step 106 ). A signal generator converts the packet to serial data through striping, scramble and 8b/10b conversion to display a serial data bar corresponding to the serial data derived from the packet (step 116 ). The user may designate a range on the serial data bar to distinctively display portions of the packet structure corresponding to the designated range (step 120 ).

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of using a signal generator for confirming a corresponding relationship between an edited packet for a serial interface and serial data derived from the edited packet comprising the steps of:
 editing a packet; 
 displaying a packet structure of the edited packet; 
 converting the edited packet to serial data; 
 displaying a serial data bar corresponding to the serial data; 
 designating an arbitrary portion of the serial data bar; and 
 distinctively displaying portions of the packet structure corresponding to the designated arbitrary portion. 
 
     
     
       2. The method as recited in  claim 1  wherein the designated arbitrary portion is designated with time cursors. 
     
     
       3. The method as recited in  claim 2  wherein the positions of the time cursors may be changed by a symbol unit of the serial data. 
     
     
       4. The method as recited in  claim 2  wherein times of the respective time cursors from the beginning of the serial data bar are displayed. 
     
     
       5. The method as recited in  claim 1  further comprising the step of displaying serial data pattern corresponding to the designated arbitrary portion. 
     
     
       6. The method as recited in  claim 1  wherein the designated arbitrary portion of the serial data bar is displayed. 
     
     
       7. A method of using a signal generator for confirming a corresponding relationship between an edited packet for a serial interface and serial data derived from the edited packet comprising the steps of:
 editing a packet; 
 displaying a packet structure of the edited packet; 
 converting the edited packet to serial data; 
 displaying a serial data bar corresponding to the serial data; 
 designating an arbitrary portion of the packet structure; and 
 distinctly displaying portions of the serial data bar corresponding to the designated portion. 
 
     
     
       8. The method as recited in  claim 7  wherein the step of designating the arbitrary portion of the packet structure comprising the step of checking the edited packet with CRC (Cyclic Redundancy Check) to designate a portion of the edited packet having an error as the designated portion. 
     
     
       9. The method as recited in  claim 7  wherein the designated portion of the packet structure is designated with cursors. 
     
     
       10. The method as recited in  claim 7  wherein the designated portion of the packet structure is displayed distinctively. 
     
     
       11. The method as recited in  claim 7  further comprising the steps of selecting one of the portions of the serial data bar corresponding to the designated portion of the packet structure and displaying serial data pattern corresponding to the selected portion.